Racing Post
June 8, 2005, Wednesday
FOOTBALL: ROMANIA COULD CUT LOOSE AGAINST WEAK ARMENIANS
by KEVIN PULLEIN
Romania striker Adrian Mutu (right) could prosper against weak
Armenia in tonight’s World Cup European qualifier
ROMANIA have not enjoyed much luck lately, but they could restore
some morale in this evening’s World Cup Group One qualifier at home
to Armenia.
Buy their supremacy at 2.2 with Sporting.
The Romanians are nowhere near as good now as they were in Euro 2000,
when they justly eliminated England from the competition, but they
still have a reasonable, technically proficient outfit.
In their Euro 2004 qualifying group they finished one point behind
Denmark, who went on to make a good impression in P ortugal, and
level with Norway, who progressed to the play-offs instead of them
because of a superior head-to-head record. In their World Cup 2006
qualifying group they have been drawn with Holland, who have beaten
them home and away, and Czech Republic, who beat them in Prague.
The Romanians have, however, won four of their five other games. The
one exception, it is true, was in Armenia, where they surrendered a
lead to draw 1-1. But more representative results over a longer
period of time suggest Romania are superior to Armenia – and perhaps
by more than 2.2 goals in Constanta.
Romania have won home and away to Macedonia and at home to Finland,
and both those countries are significantly better than Armenia.
As if to illustrate the point, Armenia have already lost by two goals
at home to Finland and three goals away to Macedonia, as well as by
one goal at home.
It is rare, but not completely unknown, for firms to underestimate
the favourite in what is expected to be an international mismatch,
and this may be another occasion when they have done so.
The Fifa world rankings provide a reliable, if not infallible, method
of evaluating the relative strength of international teams. Romania
are currently 89 places and 252 ranking points ahead of Armenia.
Past experience suggests this might entitle them to be considered
more than 2.2-goal favourites at home to Armenia. Recommendation Buy
Romania supremacy 8pts at 2.2 (Sporting)